Author: Karen Watters

Karen is a senior estates litigator who represents clients in a variety of proceedings including will challenges, dependant’s relief claims, guardianship applications, and powers of attorney disputes. Karen obtained her law degree from Queen’s University and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2011.

Is a Formal Capacity Assessment Required Evidence?

When the court appoints a guardian of property or guardian of the person the court must make a finding of incapacity (ss. 25(1) and 55(1) of the Substitute Decisions Act, SO 1992, c 30 (the “SDA”).  Often parties will obtain or seek to obtain a formal capacity assessment to provide to the court as evidence

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Mandatory Mediation: Where, What, Why

For more than two decades, mediation has been mandatory in certain jurisdictions in Ontario for most matters involving estates, trusts, and substitute decisions. Toronto, Ottawa, and the County of Essex are subject to mandatory mediation pursuant to and governed by rule 75.1 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, RRO 1990, O. Reg. 194. The types

Estate Mediation

When You Can’t Afford a Funeral

A CBC news article published last week highlighted a mother’s grief after the death of her daughter because the family could not afford a funeral.  Tragically, the body of the deceased daughter was held in a hospital freezer as the morgue was at capacity.  While the CBC article mentioned financial assistance available in Newfoundland and

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Capacity to Grant and Revoke Powers of Attorney

The validity of powers of attorney can be challenged on the basis that the grantor was incapable when she signed the power of attorney. The requisite capacity to grant a power of attorney for property is set out in s. 8(1) of the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992, SO 1992, c. 30 (the “SDA”) which provides

Power of Attorney
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